The competition, held at the Virginia Beach Jewish Mother and presented by the Natchel' Blues Network, pitted some of the area's top players and bands against each other for the chance to reach the next rounds of the challenge held in Memphis next year.

Carbon Jam, a group started by students at Norfolk Academy, won over a pair of other bands competing in the contest's youth category: The UnXpected from Williamsburg and The Renegades from Virginia Beach.

Carbon Jam, which just returned from playing FloydFest, is set to open for The Legwarmers at The NorVa, on Saturday, Aug. 11. A story in the Daily Press last year illuminated the band's rise on the local rock scene.

Here's a video of Carbon Jam playing one of the songs that helped the group win the contest. This clip was shot at the Jewish Mother, but at an appearance there earlier this month.

Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos, based in Norfolk, won in the contest's band division. The field included the H.M. Johnson Band, Pig Foot Riot, Lisa Lim Band and Tough Deal.

The Conqueroos are led by guitarist-singer Anthony Rosano and include veteran Peninsula-based bass player Paul Warren.

"Longtime friends Anthony Rosano and Paul Warren started the Conqueroos as an outlet for the 'blues muse' that is the undercurrent to all that is musical," reads a bio for the band. "The two have played together numerous times at jams ... after meeting [harmonica player] Jack Campbell, the Conqueroos were born."